Te arataki i ngā whakawhanaketanga o te haumaru o ngā rori i Aotearoa hei te 10 tau ā tae noa ki te 31 o Tīhema 2029.
Guiding improvements in New Zealand’s road safety over 10 years until 31 December 2029.
What you need to know
On average, 1 person is killed every day on New Zealand roads and another 7 are seriously injured. Deaths or serious injuries should not be an inevitable cost of travelling. The Road to Zero strategy sets out our vision for a New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes. It includes guiding principles for how we design the road network and make road safety decisions, and sets our targets for 2030. It defines the 5 areas we want to focus on over the next decade and includes a framework for how we will hold ourselves to account. Our initial action plan has 15 items — and work on these is currently underway.
Our previous road safety strategy was Safer Journeys, which had made some progress but was not implemented as intended. Although it was based on a sound approach and compelling evidence, it did not have sufficient buy-in, investment, leadership and accountability to achieve a significant reduction in deaths and injuries. Based on this, in April 2018 we began working with our transport partners on the Road to Zero road safety strategy to support a significant and sustained improvement in road safety outcomes.
The work to date
05
Sep 2019–Mar 2019
Road to Zero finalised and launched
In November 2019, the Government agreed to publish the Road to Zero strategy for 2020–2030 and the initial 3-year action plan. We published the strategy and plan in December 2019.
In November 2019, the Government agreed to publish the Road to Zero strategy for 2020–2030 and the initial 3-year action plan. We published the strategy and plan in December 2019.
The strategy outlines a plan to stop people being killed or injured on our roads. It includes our vision, 7 principles, 5 focus areas and targets — including the target of a 40% reduction in death and serious injuries (from 2018 levels) by 2030.
The action plan accompanies the strategy and contains 15 initial actions within the strategy’s 5 focus areas. The initial action plan lasts for 3 years starting on 1 January 2020, although delivery of some actions will continue after 2022. Some actions are currently in progress or in place.
Invest in safety treatments and infrastructure improvements
The Government agreed to consult on the new road safety strategy and proposed actions. Over 1,000 submissions were received through the public consultation process, with the majority of submitters broadly supportive of the strategy and action plan.
The Government agreed to consult on the new road safety strategy and proposed actions. Over 1,000 submissions were received through the public consultation process, with the majority of submitters broadly supportive of the strategy and action plan.
Almost 85% of submitters supported the proposed vision, with most organisational submitters indicating strong support. There was broad support for including a target in the strategy, with 42% of submitters supporting the proposed target of a 40% reduction in death and serious injuries and 34% wanting something more ambitious.
Over several months we met with a wide range of people with an interest in road safety, including regional and local road safety groups, industry and advocacy groups, and iwi. We heard a broad range of perspectives and concerns about road safety. Stakeholders clearly wanted substantial change but held different views about how and when change should happen.
Over several months we met with a wide range of people with an interest in road safety, including regional and local road safety groups, industry and advocacy groups, and iwi. We heard a broad range of perspectives and concerns about road safety. Stakeholders clearly wanted substantial change but held different views about how and when change should happen.
In March and April 2019 we held 14 roadshows across the country for local government representatives and regional stakeholders. Overall, we received support for a more ambitious approach, as well as positive feedback on the direction and content of the document we planned to consult the public on later in 2019.
Stakeholders often focused on driver behaviour as a key factor in road safety. Many also noted the importance of speed and were keen to see streamlined processes for setting speed limits. Some stakeholders stressed that the strategy needed to take into account rural needs, and access to jobs and services.
We worked with 5 reference groups made up of over 100 representatives from across the transport sector. They provided a range of knowledge, experiences and perspectives that contributed to the development of the strategy discussion document.
We worked with 5 reference groups made up of over 100 representatives from across the transport sector. They provided a range of knowledge, experiences and perspectives that contributed to the development of the strategy discussion document.
The purpose of the reference groups was to:
contribute to investigations of the current road safety problems
identify potential opportunities to address these problems and support a safe road system.
review the research, evidence and best practice approaches being used in New Zealand and overseas
The groups met 4 times and considered speed, vehicles, vehicles as a workplace, road user behaviour, and road infrastructure.
The Associate Minister of Transport held a 1-day Local Government Road Safety Summit in Wellington for more than 100 senior local government representatives from across New Zealand.
The Associate Minister of Transport held a 1-day Local Government Road Safety Summit in Wellington for more than 100 senior local government representatives from across New Zealand.
The summit provided the opportunity for local government to suggest and discuss actions that would have the greatest effect on road safety in their regions.